California State Railroad Museum

The California State Railroad Museum is a world-class institution and Smithsonian Affiliate located in the heart of Old Sacramento State Historic Park, celebrating the transformative power of railroads that built California, connected a continent, and changed the world. One of the largest railroad museums on earth, the museum complex spans over 225,000 square feet of exhibits, beautifully restored locomotives and cars, a model railroad barn, and interactive galleries that bring 150 years of rail history to life. Visitors can stand in the shadow of legendary steam locomotives, some dating to 1862, and trace the heroic story of the Transcontinental Railroad, including the contributions of Chinese workers who built much of the Sierra Nevada crossing. The adjacent Sacramento Southern Railroad operates seasonal excursion trains along the Sacramento River levees from April through September, pulled by a genuine 1942 steam locomotive or vintage diesel equipment. The museum also serves as the administrative home of Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California, where steam-powered excursion trains run through Gold Country. With over 500,000 visitors annually, the museum offers engaging educational programs, guided tours, a museum store, and a research library. The museum is open seven days a week, year-round.